Method of vulcanizing the protective cover or tread part onto the carcass of a tire and apparatus therefor



May 1,1928. 1 1,668,032

. D. F. WILHELMI METHOD OF VULCANIZING THE PROTECTIVE 'C' OVER 0RTREAD'PART ON TO THE CARCASS OF A- TIRE AND APPARATUS THEREFOR FiledSept. 20, 1921 111 1 1 111 1 1H M '11 310 4 i "3 fiver/hi J.FBTZ LbeZmPatented May ,1, 1928.

UNITED STATES 1,668,032 PATENT OFFICE.

DIRK FRANS WILHELMI, OF DOORWERTH, NETHERLANDS, ASBIGNOB, BY DIRECT ANDMESNE ASSIGNMENTS, OF ONE-HALF TO MORGAN & WRIGHT, OF DETROIT, MICHI-GAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN, AND ON E-HALF TO THE B, P. GOODRICH COI-PANY, 01 NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION 01 NEW YORK.

METHOD OF 'VULCANIZING THE PROTECTIVE COVER OR TREAD PART ONTO TnCARCASS A TIRE AND APPARATUS THEREFOR.

Application fled September 20, 1821, Serial No. 502,002, and in theNetherlands November 11, 10.0-

For vulcanizingthe protective cover or tread part onto the prevulcanizedcarcass or casing of a tire for motor cars said parts are sometimesfirmly wrapped up in order that the required pressure may be obtained,but ordinarily they are treated in a mould wherein the carcass ispressed against the tread part by air pressure in an inner tube.

The first named method is unsatisfactory owing to the poor appearance ofthe tire so produced and to the comparatively low pressure under whichthe vulcanization is carried out. The second method has theinconvenience that the inner tube is liable to overvulcanization andcannot, therefore, be

used more than say fifteen times.

It has further been suggested'to supply water pressure to the interiorof the carcass during the vulcanization in order to expand or stretchthe carcass into contact with the inner surfaces of the mould, thepressure water being in direct contact with and consequently having thesame pressure and substantially the same temperature as the steam usedfor heating the mould.

Now, according to my present invention, the pressure of the watersupplied to the interior of the carcass is independent of the steampressure so that it may be raised to any suitable amount in excess ofthe steam pressure, whereb a much better qualit of the tire is ensured.I furtherprefer to a low the pressure water to circulate throu h thetire durin the vulcanizatio'n where y the carcass is iept at a lowertemperature than the mould and overvulcanization of the carcass and ofthe packing rings is'fprevented. I may control the temperature 0 thepressure water flowing through the tire by regulating the speed of flow,and for this purpose the water is preferably supplied by a iigh pressurerotaryrpump. Another object of my invention is an improved apparatus forcarrying my new method into effect. The characteristic features of thisapparatus will be brought out in the claims.

In order that my invention may be clearly understood, I shall nowproceed to describe a practical embodiment, 4 reference being made tothe annexed drawing which shows an elevation, partly in section,of acontainer lower shell 1 and an annular upper shell 2. i

The carcass of the tire 3 is placed around a metal ring 4 provided witha packing sleeve 5 secured to it by means of a dove tailed rid e 6. Saidpacking sleeve is rovided wit 1 tubulures 7 and 8 forming tig t joints"with a water inlet pipe 9 and a water outlet pipe 10, respectively,passed therethrough and through ring 4.

The ring 4, the sleeve 5, the carcass 3 and the protective cover ortread part 11 are placed in the lower shell 1 whereupon the ulpplershell 2 is closed down on the lower sie Secured to ring 4 are two Ts 12and 13 in communication with the water supply pipe 14 and the waterdischarge pipe 15, respectively. Annular packin sleeves 16 are providedto make fluid tig t 'oints between the Ts of the successive moulds lacedthe one on the other and between the s of the top mould and the pi es14, 15. The Ts 17, 18 of the lower mou d have blind bottoms.

That end of the inlet pipe 9 which projects into the'tire is bentdownwards in order that the water may be drawn from the tire orforcedout by compressed air admitted through pi e 15 when thevulcanization is finished. he end of the outlet pi e 10 is bent upwardsas shown so as to al ow the air to esca e through pipe 15 when water isadmitte into the tire.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of mypresent invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, Ideclare that what I claim is 1. A vulcanizin apparatus comprisin acontainer adapte to receive steam un or pressure, a vulcanizing moldarranged in said container, a liquid inlet pipe extendi from theexterior of the container into sai mold, and a liquid outlet pipeextending from the exterior of said container to said mold, the interiorof said mold and said pipes permitting the circulation of liquid throughthe mold independently of the steam in said container.

2. A vulcanizing apparatus including a container, a series of moldsarranged therein, a ring arranged in each mold for clamping a tirecarcass against the walls of the molds, an inlet T and an outlet Tconnected to each ring, aligned conduits through the inlet T for placingthe interiors of the molds in communication, ali ed conduits through theoutlet Ts, a liqui inlet pipe extending from the exterior of thecontainer to one of said inlet Ts, and a liquid'outlet pipe extendingfrom the exterior of the container to one of said outlet Ts.

3. A vulcanizing apparatus comprising a container adapted to receivesteam, a series of molds superposed in said container, a ring for eachmold adapted to clamp a tire carcass within the mold, a hollow inlet Tand a hollow outlet T connected to each ring, for admitting anddischarging fluid to and from the interior of a carcass arranged withinthe mold, fluid conducting means arranged between the Ts, a fluid inletpipe extending from the interior of the container to one of said inletTs, and a. fluid outlet pipe extending from the exterior of thecontainer to one of the outlet Ts.

4. An apparatus including press members for subjecting molds totreatment, in combination with means for supplying fluid to the interiorof the molds, sald means including a header composed of sectionswith-ends adapted to make tight connection with each other by pressureof the press members, and branch passage connections between thesections of the header and the molds.

5. A method of vulcanizing a plurality of tire casings which consists inenclosing the tire casings within molds, locating the molds within acontainer adapted to be supplied with a heating medium, simultaneouslsupplying the liquid under pressure to t e interior of each of the tirecasings from a source outside of the container, and simultaneouslywithdrawing said liquid under pressure from each of the tire casings toa point outside of the container, \vhereb the tire casings may bevulcanized under i entical conditions and without intermingling theliquid under pressure with the heating medium in contact with theexterior of the molds.

6. Vulcanizing apparatus comprising a plurality of molds, meansassociated with each of said molds for conducting pressure fluid into ahollow article contained therein, each said mold and said means beingadapted to be handled as a unit, a coupling member constituting a partof each of said means, the several said coupling members being adaptedto be connected with each other to form a trunk conduit by the act ofassembling the molds with each other, means for applying fluid pressureto said trunk conduit, and means for heating the articles within saidmold.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

DIRK FRANS WILHELMI.

